The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-13
TENNESSEE'S SCHOOLS.
ABLE ADDRESS BY COL. FRANCIS
FENTREss, OF BOLIVAR.
Origin OF the Public School System in
nnessee-Subsequeu Legislation
Troubles That Environ It-Defects-
Importance of Improvement.

Importance of Improvement.
The following address was delivered be-
fore the Teacher institute, at Grand juno
ton Tenn, last Saturday, by Col. Fen.
trcss, OF Bolivar, it being requested by the
institute that the address should be
printed in The APPEAL:
Ladies and Gentlemen--Y on are assembled
here to confer as TO the best methods by
which to reach and educate the rising gen
Grafton. Coming from the towns and cities
as well rs the highways and hedges you are
well acquainted with the needs of the youth
OF the land. But perhaps you are not all
familiar with the sources whence are derived
the revenues for the support Oi the free
schools in Tennessee.
Away back in 1906, when the first consti-
tuition of the State was formed, no provision
was made for the establishment OF free
| schools. Our ancestors--thcn sparsely scat
tered, and with meager means OF intercom-
| municati0n, with civilization almost in its
infancy on this continent, with no books
| aud constantly engaged IN rcpelling the in
cursions OF hostile Indians-found no time
or opportunity TO cultivate their minds or
educate their children. A scant subsistence
| upon parChed corn, maple sugar and wild
game was about all they had for food, and
their raiment consisted ol buckskin pants
and coarse WOODEN shirts for the men, while
| even Dolly warden calico gown was not 10
be had for the lair sex Their hnbitations
were rough stockades or double pens, wlth
mud chinking and an open hall between.
| Cooking stoves and sewing machines and
steam engines were unknown. An old
wooden mold board fastened TO wooden
beam aud drawn by oxen was Their de.
pendence Tor pillow. Farming utensils not
II "a Al a. l.. Al
different from those OF the patriarhs IN the
Time OF Abraham were used TO I'll the virgin
soil. sulphur matches had not been discoV-
cred, ana u Under box win mint anu
spunk were'indispensahle To start lire.
| within hall century subsequent popu-
lHtion had by natural increase ana by immi-
grafton more Than doubled, ana the necessity
Tor better facilities, educational, commercial
anu agricultural, became imperative lhe
people began TO build better houses; COM
merco down the rivers 10 New orleans, or
across carolina To the Atlantic coast began
to assume Importance. Cast iron plows
came into use The TWO wheeled cart win
white oak tires which our grandparents
used, gave way TO the four wheeled wagon
with iron tires. Even piano here and
there among the richer classes was 10 be
found, and soon the old books, with the
long ''S's' gave way Ia Webster's blue back
speller. and the Columbian Orator. The
singing method Of teaching the children to
read or spell was abandoned.
There is a legend that Ia those good old
times there was but one steel lisl'hook in
Middle Tennessee, and when its owner was
drafted to go 10 the Creek war, lac willcd II
with great sOlemnity 10 n favoritc nephew.
No possession in the country was considered
~ valuable. II was noted The denizens Of
Buffalo and Duck river would 90 for miles
to see the owner of that iish-hook land some
wary trout or catfish that could not be
taken with the Indian fsh-hook tied with n
thongto some hard stick, and the neighbors
on Big Harpeth would often send formal
committees 20 borrow that celebrated fish
hook.
Why, some 81 you remember the first
brick house ever built in this county. Old
man Iarlcmnn. for whom this county was
named. built II a mile southwest OF Bolivar.
II was a modest one story house with two
rooms, but such curiosity that people came
for fifty mile. 10 see H. and wondered nj the
art by which such u mansion OF such mate
rial could be built by human hand,.
Well, those times arr past. aud ! merely
advcrtcd To them 10 show what progress we
have made.
| With increased population and the march
OF progress came the demand Tor better
schools and a Tree school system ana III lnJl
n new constitution WIS adopted IN Tennessee,
which, recognizing the Importance OF the
spread OF knowledge among the people en-
Joined all subsequent Legislatures 10 cncOur-
age and promote public education by enact
ing suitable laws looking Ia That end.
AZ that time what WIS known as the
ca. "a. law was In elect that II, the law oil
Imprisonment for debt.
The constitution Of 1874 modified It's rigors
somewhat by ordaining That the person OF
debtor, where there i not strong prcsump-
ton OF fnud, shall not be continued IN
prison after delivering up his estate Tor the
benefit Of his creditors Ia such manner as
shall bc prescribed 10y law
IL Is said men wcrc honest In those days,
and some now claim that the repeal of those
laws and the sweeping exemption laws since
enacted arr cloak for rassal. and back
ward step IN true civilization, being In effect
an injury To the debtor, teaching him how
o. avoid the payment 81 his honest debts
under cover 81 the Law and 10 that extent
encouraging the population Of debts,
whether public or private.
Under the law a. u existed ~ the time oi
the Savior a mans cloak was The only article
Of property exempt irnm his debts and the
Master Ia that Wonderful sermon on the
mount instructed hi follower To surrender
even that. III any man suc thee az the law
aud take away thy coat, give linn thy cloak
also"
u Is conicnded that man cannot improve
on the divine law, hut We have got Tar be.
yond ~ However We may not discuss 'h"'
question.
uhucr lhc CONSTITUTION OF Ieo' ,hV Vtls ~,
laturcs SUBSEQUENTLY, ounNeh,u F,'1 ii pu'
very slowly ihcrcassi we -'houl iuhu, nu',
however IN Pioporhvn 10 OUT Interesting
. Populhuoh ahu 'he pupll' h''Vssig.
AtbrNhru, w in'"' A'on,'nuuh '" mlUp'
new CONSTITUTION a"'hn''u w N","N ~